KBL: RJ Abarrientos, Ulsan inch closer to semis duel vs Rhenz Abando, Anyang

RJ Abarrientos and the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus. –KBL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—RJ Abarrientos and the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus moved closer to a semifinals appearance in the Korean Basketball League after defeating the Goyang Carrot Jumpers, 86-71, on Sunday.

Ulsan took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three duel.

Abarrientos, who won league Rookie of the Year honors, helped Hyundai’s cause with nine points, five assists and three rebounds to inch closer to a semis clash with top seed Anyang KGC.

Rhenz Abando’s Anyang automatically clinched a semis ticket after sealing the top seed and KBL regular season title.

Seo Myong-Jin was the leading scorer for Ulsan with 18 points and five assists while Ham Ji-Hoon proved to be a presence in the paint with 16 markers and seven boards.

Over at the Goyang side of things, Lee Jung-Hyun’s 21-point outing was put to waste. Dedric Dawson also notched a double-double performance with 20 points and 13 boards in a losing effort.

On the other end of the bracket where Justin Gutang’s Changwon LG Sakers are waiting, the Seoul SK Knights trounced the Jeonju KCC Egis, 89-73, to take a 1-0 series lead.

Like Anyang, Changwon clinched a semis seat after finishing as the second seed of the season with a 36-18 record.